Ex-Im Bank's $17.5M IT Infrastructure Contract Awarded to Inquisit LLC Under Full and Open Competition

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $17,526,132 ($17.5M)

Contractor: Inquisit LLC

Awarding Agency: Export-Import Bank of the United States

Start Date: 2018-07-12

End Date: 2023-11-18

Contract Duration: 1,955 days

Daily Burn Rate: $9.0K/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Number of Offers Received: 3

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: IT

Official Description: INFO. MGMT. TECHNOLOGY INFRASTRUCTURE SERVICES IGF::OT::IGF

Place of Performance

Location: WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA County, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, 20571

State: District of Columbia Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Export-Import Bank of the United States obligated $17.5 million to INQUISIT LLC for work described as: INFO. MGMT. TECHNOLOGY INFRASTRUCTURE SERVICES IGF::OT::IGF Key points: 1. Contract value represents a significant investment in IT infrastructure services. 2. Full and open competition suggests a potentially competitive bidding process. 3. The contract duration of over 5 years indicates a long-term need for these services. 4. Fixed-price contract type may offer cost certainty but could limit flexibility. 5. The award to a single contractor warrants scrutiny of performance and pricing over time. 6. IT infrastructure services are critical for agency operations and data security.

Value Assessment

Rating: fair

Benchmarking the value of this $17.5 million contract is challenging without specific service details and comparable contract data. The fixed-price nature suggests an attempt at cost control, but the overall value for money depends heavily on the quality and efficiency of the services delivered by Inquisit LLC over the nearly 5-year period. Without more granular data on the scope of work and performance metrics, it's difficult to definitively assess if this represents excellent value.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

The contract was awarded under full and open competition, indicating that all responsible sources were permitted to submit bids. The presence of 3 bidders suggests a moderate level of competition for this IT infrastructure services contract. While competition is generally positive, the specific number of bidders (3) doesn't necessarily guarantee the lowest possible price or the most innovative solution without further analysis of the bidding process and the capabilities of the competing firms.

Taxpayer Impact: Full and open competition is generally favorable for taxpayers as it aims to foster a competitive environment that can lead to better pricing and service quality.

Public Impact

The Export-Import Bank of the United States benefits from enhanced IT infrastructure management and support. Services delivered likely include network management, system maintenance, cybersecurity, and technical support. The geographic impact is primarily within the District of Columbia, where the agency is located. Workforce implications may include the need for specialized IT personnel within the agency or reliance on contractor staff.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Potential for vendor lock-in given the long contract duration and specialized nature of IT infrastructure.
Risk of cost overruns if the fixed-price contract does not adequately account for unforeseen technical challenges or scope creep.
Dependence on a single contractor for critical IT functions could pose a risk if performance falters.

Positive Signals

Awarded through full and open competition, suggesting a structured and potentially fair procurement process.
Fixed-price contract type provides budget predictability for the agency.
The contractor, Inquisit LLC, has secured a significant contract, indicating a level of established capability.

Sector Analysis

This contract falls within the Information Technology (IT) sector, specifically focusing on IT infrastructure services. The market for such services is vast and highly competitive, encompassing managed services, cloud computing, cybersecurity, and network support. The Export-Import Bank's spending aligns with a broader government trend towards outsourcing IT infrastructure management to specialized firms to leverage expertise and potentially reduce internal operational costs. Comparable spending benchmarks would typically involve analyzing other federal agencies' IT infrastructure contracts of similar scope and duration.

Small Business Impact

The data indicates that this contract was not set aside for small businesses (ss: false, sb: false). Therefore, there are no direct subcontracting implications or specific impacts on the small business ecosystem stemming from a small business set-aside. The primary focus of this contract appears to be on securing IT infrastructure services from a prime contractor, rather than fostering small business participation through set-aside provisions.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this contract would typically be managed by the contracting officer and program managers within the Export-Import Bank of the United States. Accountability measures are inherent in the firm-fixed-price contract structure, which obligates the contractor to deliver specified services within a set budget. Transparency is facilitated by the contract award data being publicly available. Inspector General jurisdiction would apply if any fraud, waste, or abuse related to the contract were suspected.

Related Government Programs

IT Management Services
Information Technology Infrastructure
Network and Communications Services
Computer Facilities Management
IT Support Services

Risk Flags

Long contract duration may increase risk of technological obsolescence.
Fixed-price contract could lead to contractor disincentive for innovation or efficiency gains.
Broad NAICS code requires detailed review of Statement of Work for precise service understanding.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Export-Import Bank of the United States awarded $17.5 million to INQUISIT LLC. INFO. MGMT. TECHNOLOGY INFRASTRUCTURE SERVICES IGF::OT::IGF

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is INQUISIT LLC.

Which agency awarded this contract?

Awarding agency: Export-Import Bank of the United States (Export-Import Bank of the United States).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $17.5 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2018-07-12. End: 2023-11-18.

What specific IT infrastructure services were included in this $17.5 million contract awarded to Inquisit LLC?

The provided data indicates the contract is for 'INFO. MGMT. TECHNOLOGY INFRASTRUCTURE SERVICES IGF::OT::IGF' under NAICS code 541519 (Other Computer Related Services). However, the specific breakdown of services is not detailed. Typically, such contracts encompass a range of IT infrastructure support, which could include network design and maintenance, server management, data center operations, cybersecurity measures, help desk support, and potentially cloud services management. The exact scope would be defined in the contract's Statement of Work (SOW), which is not available in the provided summary data. Understanding the precise services is crucial for evaluating the contract's value and performance.

How does the $17.5 million contract value compare to similar IT infrastructure contracts awarded by the Export-Import Bank or other federal agencies?

Direct comparison of the $17.5 million value is difficult without knowing the specific services, duration, and performance metrics. However, for a contract spanning nearly five years (July 2018 to November 2023), this represents an average annual expenditure of approximately $3.5 million. This figure is within the range of many IT infrastructure support contracts awarded to federal agencies. Larger agencies might award contracts in the tens or hundreds of millions, while smaller agencies or those with more limited IT needs might award smaller contracts. The key is to compare it to contracts with similar scope (e.g., managed IT services, infrastructure support) and duration within the federal government to assess if the pricing is competitive.

What is Inquisit LLC's track record with federal IT contracts, particularly with the Export-Import Bank?

The award of this $17.5 million contract suggests Inquisit LLC has a demonstrated capability to secure and presumably execute significant IT infrastructure services for the federal government. Without access to detailed contract performance histories, past performance evaluations (CPARS), or other contract awards, it's challenging to provide a comprehensive track record. However, securing a multi-year, firm-fixed-price contract under full and open competition indicates they met the agency's requirements and were competitive. Further investigation into their contract portfolio and client feedback would be necessary for a complete assessment.

What are the potential risks associated with a nearly five-year fixed-price contract for IT infrastructure services?

A significant risk with long-term, fixed-price IT contracts is the potential for scope creep or unforeseen technological advancements that were not accounted for in the original pricing. If the contractor is locked into a fixed price, they may be less incentivized to adopt newer, more efficient technologies unless explicitly allowed by contract modifications. Conversely, the agency risks paying a premium if technology costs decrease or if the contractor under-delivers on service levels due to the fixed-price constraint. Vendor lock-in is another risk, where the agency becomes heavily reliant on the incumbent contractor, making future transitions difficult and potentially costly. Ensuring robust performance metrics and clear change management processes are critical to mitigate these risks.

How does the 'Other Computer Related Services' (NAICS 541519) classification impact the understanding of this contract's scope?

The NAICS code 541519, 'Other Computer Related Services,' is a broad category that encompasses a wide array of IT services not specifically classified elsewhere. This includes services like computer facilities management, IT support services, network management, disaster recovery services, and IT consulting. For this contract, it suggests the services provided by Inquisit LLC are comprehensive IT infrastructure support functions that don't neatly fit into more specific categories like custom software development (541511) or IT system integration design (541512). This broad classification necessitates a closer look at the contract's Statement of Work to understand the precise nature and extent of the services being procured.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services › Computer Systems Design and Related Services › Other Computer Related Services

Product/Service Code: SUPPORT SVCS (PROF, ADMIN, MGMT) › MANAGEMENT SUPPORT SERVICES

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Solicitation Procedures: SUBJECT TO MULTIPLE AWARD FAIR OPPORTUNITY

Solicitation ID: 83310118Q0042

Offers Received: 3

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Parent Company: Inquisit, LLC

Address: 44715 BRIMFIELD DR, ASHBURN, VA, 20147

Business Categories: Category Business, Corporate Entity Not Tax Exempt, Hispanic American Owned Business, Limited Liability Corporation, Minority Owned Business, Self-Certified Small Disadvantaged Business, Small Business, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $17,526,132

Exercised Options: $17,526,132

Current Obligation: $17,526,132

Actual Outlays: $8,833,082

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: GS35F0447T

IDV Type: FSS

Timeline